What's Happening Today - Nov. 9

We're mowing the lawn. This describes the track of the ship as it makes straight, parallel lines across the ocean surface during sonar surveys. The DSL-120A sonar is working very well and we're seeing interesting volcanic and structural features in the data. We are working on various data processing schemes so that the final sonar images appear on maps referenced in latitude and longitude - this will allow us to start interpreting the data. We finished Line #1 today and made a turn to head back north towards the top of our survey box. Our plan is to finish Line #2 tomorrow and then put ABE in the water to test it.

The weather today was less cloudy and the wind has died down to about 15 knots, but by now everyone is used to the motion of the ship and is eating heartily. After we made the turn, because the cable to the sonar fish hangs off a block on the port (left) side of the ship, we had to position the ship so that it is pointing southwest but we are driving the ship north northwest. This arrangment of ship heading and wire over the side will help us keep the wire from rubbing on the side of the ship and damaging it.

As I write this we're driving just west of north but the ship is pointed nearly in the opposite direction that we are travelling. The reason why we can do this is because the ship has Dynamic Positioning, a system that allows very precise control of the ship's speed and direction using the GPS satellite constellation. There is a short description of this in the Dive and Discover web site under ships and vehicles and oceanographic tools.

Best Regards,

Dan Fornari

Andy Billings (left) and Rod Catanach, the ABE's mechanical engineers. They put ABE's stern propellor on today, getting it ready for tomorrow's test dive.

Ed Popowitz (left) and Jim McGill, Able Seamen on the bridge of Atlantis.

Brent Gary standing watch at the sonar data logging computer in the Computer Lab.

The SSSG (Shipboard Scientific Services Group) technicians. From left: Christina Courcier, Dave Sims and Steve Eykelhoff. These folks help the science party with a myriad of tasks from getting equipment ready, providing us access to the data the ship and Alvin collect, to connecting and fixing computers, and the all-important task of sending and receiving email so we can stay in touch with family and friends back home. We couldn't do our work without them.

Craig Dickson, the 2nd Mate, on the bridge at the controls of the Dynamic Positioning system.

John Cawley, an Ordinary Seaman, helps keep R/V Atlantis in ship-shape by painting the aft door to the Main Lab. Painting and maintenance of the ship and its equipment, and battling rust is a full-time job for the deck crew. They take great pride in their work.